The Wine Kitchen - Frederick

I must admit, I absolutely love this restaurant. The outdoor seating by the water was the ideal spot for a tranquil dining experience that felt like it could last forever. I know it wasn't actually forever, but it sure felt that way.

Better than Leesburg, the menu at this restaurant is fantastic. The ambience is truly amazing. This is our second visit to a wine kitchen and I personally prefer it over any other restaurant.

This was our second time dining at the wine kitchen and it was still amazing. Despite not having reservations, we were still able to sit in the beautiful dining area.

What has happened to the food at this restaurant??? I can't recall the last time I received my steak cooked perfectly medium rare on the first attempt. Every dish is either overly seasoned or lacking in flavor, there is no balance. I continue to return for the cocktails and the attentive service, hoping that the food will return to its former quality. However, I have now given up on the dinner menu completely. It is disappointing because this restaurant used to be my favorite!

It occurred to me, one night after work, that despite living in Frederick most of my life, there were tons of places I'd never eaten at yet. Tonight I chose one of those places at random and decided to treat myself to dinner since my husband was visiting family. I walked in around 9 pm and the hostess didn't bat an eye at my dining alone, and didn't say anything about it, which I appreciate. I was seated right away with no problems and immediately got a chance to look over the menu. I will admit, it took a little bit longer than expected for my waiter to come over, but as a lone diner I sort of expected that. I looked like I was waiting for someone, I'm sure. The look and feel of the place was very upscale, but they didn't have any problems with me walking in wearing a nerdy t-shirt. I was seated in this cute little booth for 2 with curtains on the side so, if I wanted a more private dinner, I could have it. It was a cute touch! The restaurant also offered patio dining and since it's by the creek, that would have been a downright charming experience were it not the usual Maryland summer. Despite having a bar, the restaurant was respectably quiet and low-key, making it an easy dining experience. I wasn't in the mood for something wild, and this place really hit the nail on the head. My first waiter Kevin, however, was the picture of polite helpfulness. He answered all of my questions, made some wonderful suggestions, and was incredibly pleasant to talk to. I was delighted to find out that this place takes part in DC restaurant week, so I was able to take part in that promotion. Under a suggestion from Kevin, I ordered a glass of their moscato (I wanted something light and sweet), and the wine was so good I brought home a whole bottle. Not really on them, but it does reflect their excellent selection. Dinner itself was delicious. The red pepper soup was refreshing and flavorful, without being too filling. The steak I ordered was cooked to perfection and was flavored in the perfect way to make the actual flavor of the meat shine. The potatoes were both light and fluffy, but also had the little chunks of potato that I prefer in my mashed. The best part was desert. About halfway through my appetizer, Kevin introduced my other waiter, Maddy, who took over after he went home. She was as much of a delight as he was, and made possibly the best recommendation of the night. Desert was this blackberry tart that I did not have room for but could not put down. Gooey and crumbly all at once, with a warm center that was almost caramel-y even though it was fruit based. Topped with a light cream to balance it all out, it was absolutely delicious. I will be thinking of that tart all day tomorrow. The prices on the menu were a little high, but I wouldn't go so far to say they were unreasonable. If I had wanted a cheaper option, I could have gone to any chain restaurant ever. In the grand scheme of downtown Frederick, with it's many small businesses and one of a kind dining experiences, I think this was reasonable. For reference, a lot of meals were between $20 and $30, but a good steak is almost always $30+. Despite the price, I had an exceptional dining experience, and would 100% recommend this place to anyone looking for upscale dining, without the upscale requirements.